Mission Statement

As part of the federal government’s National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Eye Institute’s mission is to “conduct and support research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to blinding eye diseases, visual disorders, mechanisms of visual function, preservation of sight, and the special health problems and requirements of the blind.”

Learning to use the Diabetes and Healthy Eyes Toolkit

If you are interested in learning to use the Diabetes and Healthy Eyes Toolkit, you can start by taking this online training. If you would like more information on how to use the toolkit or to facilitate a training with a network of community health workers in your area, please contact NEHEP.

What community health workers are saying about the toolkit

Watch the videos below of a community health worker talking about her experience using the toolkit. Read what community health workers like most about the toolkit.

In their own words: Community health workers speak about the toolkit

“The kit has very basic descriptions and educative explanations, and that’s great. The photos make a big difference. They have a huge impact. Some of the pictures in the toolkit—we have enlarged them and placed them on a bulletin board: the pictures of the children and a person’s vision with glaucoma. Instead of explaining medical terms to them, such as optic nerve and how the optic nerve will be damaged, we show them the image of how a person with glaucoma sees and it makes an impression on them. The photo is perfect and essential to educate someone with a very basic knowledge or understanding of medical terms.”

“What I like the most is that it’s clear and easy to understand. There are no complicated words. The images are large and it’s easy to use. It’s manual and interactive.”

“Participants enjoy the way the information is presented. It’s easy and clear for them to understand. The photos make a huge difference. When we explain glaucoma, the photos make them think and triggers questions from the participants. When someone starts asking questions, it’s an indication that they’re interested and it’s a benefit for them.”

“I would recommend this toolkit without a doubt because it standardizes [information]. When there are several agencies using it, we’re all on the same page in communicating the same information. Obviously, we all use the toolkit differently, but the general information is great and essential. You can tell that it’s beneficial to the general public.”